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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

CRAZY CULTSKILLER ROBOTSA globe trotting mystery adventure! Mike Isenberg and Oliver Mertz brings you First Law of Mad Science a 12 issue arc following super scientists as they try to head off panic over eye implants that have gone terribly awry.

Ben Carter: Drummer. Bald Man. Nice Smelling. Zombie Hunter? Evile's resident heavy hitter took some time out of his hectic touring schedule to enlighten me as to why his band, EVILE were better than Zombies.

Coming in at Number Ten: #10 Evile have a greater knowledge of Zombie films than Zombies have of human films.

#9 We (the members of EVILE) all have use of our basic motor functions . . . (well, most of the time...)

#8 If you try to escape, we'll be to lazy to bother giving chase. Which means you'll probably live.

#7 Only one member of EVILE has a maggot infestation and four smelling breath. * ALL Zombies do! (* at the time of last doctor's check-up).

#6 The snoring noises Joel and Ben make whilst asleep are far scarier than a Zombie's groans and growls.

#5 EVILE can drink more than the equivalent Zombie ban. Probably because Zombies have massive, gaping abdomen wounds that the beers/whisky/vodka would just run straight out of.

EVILE are, by far, one of my favourite bands to shoot. Don't get me wrong, it's very hard to head bang and shoot at the same time. But it's worth it for an EVILE show. Last year they blistered the festival scene playing to tens of thousands of people. This fall they are on the road in the USA playing intimate venues. I gotta say, the gig in Brooklyn October 10, 2010 was my favourite. It was WAY too short, a scad over a half an hour. I was just getting warmed up. I made the "executive decision" - with the blessing of bassist Joel Graham, to shoot in black and white. These are the results.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

I had the pleasure of interviewing Regine L. Sawyer, owner and founder of Lockett Down Productions. Ms. Sawyer has plans of bringing ICE WITCH, a character introduced in The Rippers, to publication in 2011.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Well here's something to whet your appetite. The 32nd Season of Doctor Who is coming to America! No Eddie Murphy here. The two part season opener brings the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith and the lovely Amy Pond, Karen Gillan, to of all places - Utah! Stven Moffat (BLINK) is writing the episode which is set to film in November.

It's being co-produced with BBC AMERICA, so we hope that doesn't mean a dumbing down of Mr. Moffat's work. If all goes well, the American's will keep their noses out of this and let Moffat exude his brilliance! Actual production stated in Cardiff this month (October)

SPOILERS!!!! ALEX KINGSTON WILL REPRISE HER ROLE AS RIVER SONG!!!!!!

Showrunner and lead writer, Steven Moffat, said: “The Doctor has visited every weird and wonderful planet you can imagine, so he was bound get round to America eventually! And of course every Doctor Who fan will be jumping up and down and saying he’s been in America before. But not for real, not on location - and not with a story like this one! Oh, you wait!”

Piers Wenger, Head of Drama BBC Wales and Executive Producer, added: "Steven's scripts generally inspire us to go that extra mile - this time we're going that extra four thousand. Thanks to our friends at BBC AMERICA and to the continuing ambition of our lead writer and production team, the first two episodes of Matt Smith's second season as the Doctor are going global and look set to become Doctor Who's most action-packed and ambitious season opener yet."

The new season follows on from the Doctor Who Christmas special guest starring Katherine Jenkins and Michael Gambon which is due to premiere during the holiday season. Season 32 will start airing on BBC AMERICA in spring 2011 and has been split into two blocks, with the second block airing in autumn 2011. By splitting the series Moffat plans to give viewers one of the most exciting Doctor Who cliffhangers and plot twists ever, leaving them waiting, on the edge of their seats, until the autumn to find out what happens.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Trenton is not a place you want to get lost in. It's dark. It's hard to read the street signs. There are a LOT of cops around, but they seem to be rushing off somewhere in a red / blue blinding hurry. Luckily, the people in the 7-11 knew exactly where I was going. I thought I was late but as it happens, EVILE haven't been hitting the stage until about 10pm. Lucky for me! With the "cozyness" of the Big Blue Van, a preference for Walmart car parks, and a love of A&W Root Beer the four lads that make up EVILE: Matt and Ol Drake, Ben Carter, and Joel Graham tore thru an all too short set. I swear, I was just getting warmed up! I must say, it is hard to shoot and headbang at the same time. Small one man mosh pits would erupt behind me and I'd brace myself for the random hit. I've been tagged harder at Duran Duran concerts. LOL The punters seemed content to headbang. Many went up to the band afterwards to thank them for the show and to profess their love of the music. A few even vowed to return on November 3rd - and bring a friend! Brooklyn is next on the list Sunday night with Canadian dates following at the end of the month. A welcome change of weather to something more "manageable" - as the earlier shows have been in very hot temperatures.

The most informative panel of Friday's Comicon was by far Image Comics presentation of THE WRITERS. Ron Marz, Nick Spencer, Steve Seagle and Robert Kirkman led an in depth discussion of the writing process. Each writer came to it a via a different route. Robert Kirkman wanted to be a writer / artist but found the drawing part not to be fun. He says it's way to much work. Nick Spenser started as a writer, was told his work was shite, and went off to live life thereby giving him something to write about. He actually worked for a senator from Ohio when he was in his twenties. Those life experiences is what he draws from now. Not only does a writer need life experience, but they also must think and write visually. You don't have to be an artist yoruself, that's why they have inkers and colourists. But you must use words to paint a picture. Ron Marz says to start with a visual. He starts with a blank piece of paper and numbers it from one to twenty-two. First he wants to get a sense of what will happen on each page then he breaks it down into panels. Marz states, "Each page needs its own beat. Each page needs its own visual statement." Besides, half of what a comic book writer writes is only read by three or four people: the artist, the colourist, and the editor. It's up to the artist to bring the writers words to life. Steve Seagle says you must write differently for each artist you work with. It's critical to know what your artist is good at and what they want from you. Robert Kirkman has used the same artist for almost ten years. His comics are written like emails. They are very lose and organic. Of course, scripts are harder as you have more eyes on it. The upcoming AMC series THE WALKING DEAD needed script approval from Frank Darabond and AMC. I asked Robert about those differences as essentially, he's re-writing something he's already written, but in a different format. He says it's fun to re-write some of the scenes because he can take the characters in different directions.

Words of advice from some of the best authors in the industry today....

Nick Spenser: "Trust your instincts."

Ron Marz: "Don't be a whore just to get your name in print." He says you have to write for you. Make sure you think what you're doing is good.

Ron Marz: "Know when to get the hell out of the way and let the artist do their job."

Steve Seagle says you should write for fifteen minutes every day of the week for a month. Carve out the same time and just write, non stop. After a month, write for thirty minutes every day for a month. If you can't write for two months - every day; then don't be a writer.

And good news for all you who loved SHINKU when the preview came out last year. Ron Marz will launch a monthly version of SHINKU with Lee Moder on art. For those of you not in the know, SHINKU is a proper vampire tale. No emo vamps here. Vampires as bad guys - loads of nudity and blood!

Zombies are going "mainstream". From zombie books, to movies, to graphic novels - now we've serialized and hit prime time! The amazing series THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman has a full season on AMC starting this October (2010). If you haven't read the books, quickly! Go pick them up at your local comic book shop. You won't be disappointed.